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Accuracy of the information on tombstones and in burial registers
Although both tombstones and the burial registers are excellent sources
of genealogical information, it should be noted that they can contain
errors. The accuracy of the information is dependent upon several factors:
Family members who buried the person may not have known the exact date
of birth.
Only a nickname sometimes appears on the headstone or tombstones and in
the burial registers.
Many females are buried under their married names without any record of
their maiden names. They may also have been married before without any
indication of their previous surnames.
Duplicate tombstones are sometimes erected without an indication of which
one is the correct tombstone.
The tombstone may be located in one cemetery or location while the burial
took place in another cemetery.
Sometimes even the age of the deceased is wrong. This can happen because
of a recording error or because the person disguised his or her real age.
In many African cultures, the real age of the deceased may not be known
at all. The names can be spelled wrong.
There is more space for error when the tombstone or tombstones were replaced.
There may have been a long period between the burial and the placement
of the tombstone, which means that the information on the stone may be
incorrect.
It is for these reasons that the information in burial registers and
on tombstones should be used together with death certificates and notices,
marital records and birth certificates to ensure accuracy of recorded
data. You can use all the clues, together with obituaries and news clippings
to build a comprehensive profile of the deceased and relatives.